Music Theory Casino Fundamentals Game

ABSTRACT

The invention is a game that contains several tactile pieces that can be manipulated to explain the fundamentals of music theory. The musical game hardware/teaching aids collectively called “Music Theory Casino Fundamentals Game” includes a scale isolator board, circle of 5ths spin wheel, 60 key cards, 1 wild card, 9 (or more) step tiles, major and 3 forms of minor formula flat board insert, accidental game pieces, 8-sided die containing the numbers 0-7, sharp/flat coin and harmonic/melodic coin. The teaching aids resemble game hardware found in gambling casinos and provide the user with a “game like” feel while they learn the fundamentals of music theory.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No 61972104 filed 2014 Mar. 28 by the present inventor.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

None

SEQUENCE LISTING

None

The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appears relevant:

Pat. No. Kind Code Issue Date Patentee 5,524,522 A 1996 Jun. 11 Hesnan 4,895,374 1990 Jan. 23 Bowles 5,639,977 1997 Ericksen 1,768,706 1930 Jul. 1 Miller

BACKGROUND

Music educators teach the topics of scales, modes, circle of 5ths and key signatures as part of formal musical training. The study of these fundamental topics is necessary in understanding how to read notated music. Traditionally, these topics are taught by having students write the notes of various scales on staves, draw intervalic symbols, and write accidentals within a scale and in key signatures. For tonal application, students often sing or play on a keyboard instrument the various scales they are studying in concurrent lab-type courses. Further, key signature memorization is often taught by rote and through frequent quizzing These traditional methods have achieved mixed results.

Students frequently object to the rigor involved in learning scales, modes, circle of 5ths and key signatures as part of their initiation to formal musical training. Deciding to dabble in introductory music fundamentals as part of their freshman-level survey courses in college, students may often change their minds about pursuing music for a future topic of study because of the work load and general lack of fun. Fundamental music topics are often left out of the curriculum in grades 5-8, the precise time formal operational students can comprehend these basic and necessary concepts. Since understanding scales, key signatures and the circle of 5ths is so essential in deciphering musical notation, educators need to have more enjoyable ways to engage their students when broaching these topics.

Although numerous textbooks written on the subject completely address fundamental music concepts, the application exercises in these books are often joyless read-and-write style activities. Computer applications like Finale and Sibelius, while marvelous in their capacity of synthesizing the sound that notation represents, require constant and expensive software upgrades. Also, these applications are tactile in a computer sense, generally accessible via a touch screen or typewriter-style keyboard.

Several types of simple musical teaching aids have been proposed—for example a “Music Teaching Aid” U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,522 (1996) to Hesnan. An embodiment of this device allows for the cross-referencing of certain musical information including note position, scale and chord calculation. These alignments are made possible through use of a series of slide-rule-type templates and slots over a planar base. While many broad claims regarding both instrumental technique and music theory are made in Hesnan's “Music Teaching Aid,” the device does not specifically address the melodic minor scale, which must be discussed in both an ascending as well as descending direction. Furthermore, Hesnan's device does not have tactile game pieces which could be used to help students manipulate educational content competitively in a game-like fashion as they learn.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,768,706 to Miller (1930) contains a graphic illustration of horizontal notes on a staff device lined up with a vertical picture of a piano keyboard. Unlike the scale isolator in the present invention, the keyboard in Miller's device cannot be horizontally juxtaposed with a horizontal picture of notes on the staff, which is the way musicians view both a staff and piano when reading and playing music. Also, Miller's device does not allow for keyboard notes containing accidentals to align with corresponding lines and spaces of the staff.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,639,977 to Ericksen (1997) has an embodiment that allows for key signature identification using a vertical slider. This device, however, does not have game-like manipulatives such as cards, major and 3 forms of minor formula flat board insert and accidentals to address musical rudiments in understanding how key signatures are derived.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,374 to Bowles (1990) has an embodiment containing a 6-sided die with several musical alphabet letters and colored tokens resembling coins with musical letters ABCDEFG. The 8-sided die in the present invention contains the numbers 01234567 as well as 2 coin-like game pieces; one containing the symbols for a sharp or a flat, and one containing the letter H (for Harmonic) and the letter M (for Melodic). Unlike the Bowles embodiment whose single 6-sided die does not address either every letter name of the musical alphabet, of which there are 7, or the concept of key signatures, the dice and 2 coins in the current invention enable the random possibility for a player to roll any of the 60 key-signature permutations.

SUMMARY

The invention is an improved music fundamentals game that allows a user to manipulate tactile game pieces while learning several fundamentals of music theory. Users of the game will acquire an understanding of enharmonic spellings of notes on a keyboard, staff note identification, intervalic step relationships, scales, modes, circle of 5ths and key signatures.

The advantages of the current invention will become apparent from a study of the following description and the accompanying drawings—figures.

DRAWINGS—FIGURES

FIG. 1A is an assembled top orthogonal view of the scale isolator.

FIG. 1B is an exploded top orthogonal view of the scale isolator.

FIG. 1C is an assembled perspective top view of the scale isolator without a frame.

FIG. 1D is an exploded perspective top view of the scale isolator without a frame.

FIG. 1E is a list of terms for the top side view of the scale isolator.

FIG. 2A is an assembled bottom orthogonal view of the scale isolator.

FIG. 2B is an exploded bottom orthogonal view of the scale isolator.

FIG. 2C is a list of terms for the bottom side view of the scale isolator.

FIG. 3A is a front side view of the circle of 5ths spin wheel.

FIG. 3B is a front side view of the outside and inside information disks.

FIG. 3C is a list of terms for the front side view of the circle of 5ths spin wheel.

FIG. 4 is a picture of the 9 step tiles.

FIG. 5A is a picture of the major and natural minor step formula side of the major and 3 forms of minor formula flat board insert.

FIG. 5B is a picture of the harmonic minor and melodic minor step formula side of the major and 3 forms of minor formula flat board insert.

FIG. 6 is a picture of the accidental game pieces.

FIG. 7 is a picture of the 8-sided die.

FIG. 8A is a picture of the sharp side of the sharp and flat coin.

FIG. 8B is a picture of the flat side of the sharp and flat coin.

FIG. 8C is a picture of the H side of the harmonic and melodic coin.

FIG. 8D is a picture of the M side of the harmonic and melodic coin.

FIG. 9 is a picture of the circle of 5ths spin wheel wild card.

FIG. 9A is a picture of the ab, eb and bb natural, harmonic and melodic minor cards.

FIG. 9B is a picture of the f, c and g natural, harmonic and melodic minor cards.

FIG. 9C is a picture of the d, a and e natural, harmonic and melodic minor cards.

FIG. 9D is a picture of the b, f# and c# natural, harmonic and melodic minor cards.

FIG. 9E is a pictue of the g#, d# and a# natural, harmonic and melodic minor cards.

FIG. 9F is a picture of the F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb major cards.

FIG. 9G is a picture of the C, G, D, A, E, B, F sharp, C sharp major cards.

DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION SEQUENCE FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D and 1E: Top Side of Scale Isolator

-   -   1. The scale isolator 1 is a device that enables isolation and         construction of major scales, 3 forms of minor scales, modes or         any of the 15 key signatures.     -   2. The device in claim 1 contains a horizontal slider 8A.     -   3. The horizontal slider 8A in claim 2 is a rectangular piece of         plexiglass-like material containing a clear window 8C formed         from blocking out regions on both the left 8B and right 8D sides         of the glass with label-adhesive-type material.     -   4. The horizontal slider 8A in claim 2 slides over an area of         the staff slider 11A from claim 31, which contains a picture of         15 ascending whole notes on a staff.     -   5. The 15 ascending whole notes from claim 4 are the notes on         staff picture 11B.     -   6. The clear window 8C of the horizontal slider 8A in claim 3         will expose 8 ascending whole notes arranged in a scale from the         notes on staff picture 11B in claim 5.     -   7. By moving the horizontal slider 8A in claim 3 left or right,         an example of every type of ascending 8-note musical scale can         be isolated for analysis.     -   8. The exposure of the 8 scale notes in claim 6, combined with         the use of game pieces called accidentals in claim 132 and step         tiles 2 in claim 137, enable an immediate analysis and         construction of scales and key signatures.     -   9. Pictured on the left label adhesive in claim 3 is a musical         clef 8B and partial staff that ends where the window begins.     -   10. Pictured on the right-label adhesive in claim 3 are several         musical terms on a definition sheet 8D.     -   11. Isolated in the mid-lower region of the clear window 8C of         claim 3 are 8 of the ascending notes on the notes on staff         picture 11B.     -   12. Isolated in the upper region of the exposed window of claim         3 will be a portion of a picture of a keyboard containing         enharmonic spellings.     -   13. The picture in claim 12 is the enharmonic keyboard label         10B.     -   14. The area of the exposed window in claim 3 respectively is         calibrated to show the starting and ending pitch of a chromatic         keyboard picture 10B in claim 13 and an ascending 8-note scale         on a staff in claim 6.     -   15. The left and right most area of the clear window 8C will         expose a note with the same pitch name, the keynote, when         adjusted to the desired key for analysis.     -   16. Laying directly on top and in a different plane of the left         adhesive label of the horizontal slider 8A from claim 9, there         will be a (rectangular) clear plastic insert, the clear disk         holder 7A, whose rectangular perimeter is the exact size of the         left adhesive label of the treble clef on a staff 8B.     -   17. The clear disk holder 7A from claim 16 contains a disk-sized         hole whose purpose is to hold the key signature disk 5 from         claim 19 in line with and to the left most position of the notes         on staff picture 11B from claim 5.     -   18. The disk-sized hole from claim 17 may contain a tiny bump at         the position of 9 o'clock 7B.     -   19. The key signature disk 5 is a thin disk-shaped device         containing a picture of a clef/staff with 7 flats on one side,         and a clef/staff with 7 sharps on the other.     -   20. There may be a slight indentation on either side of the disk         from claim 19 exactly 180 degrees apart at approximately 9         o'clock and 3 o'clock.     -   21. The purpose of the indentations of claim 20 is to completely         immobilize the key signature disk 5 from claim 19 when it is         inserted in the clear disk holder 7A from claim 17.     -   22. The key signature disk 5 from claim 19 may be flipped to         either the 7 flats or 7 sharps side.     -   23. The single bump at 9 o'clock that may be contained in the         clear disk holder's disk-sized hole from claim 18 will         immobilize the key signature disk 5 from claim 19 because of the         indentations at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock from claim 21.     -   24. The long sliding key signature cover 6A is a rectangular         sliding panel that is the exact height, but near ⅔ the width of         the clear disk holder 7A.     -   25. The left half of the long sliding key signature cover 6A         from claim 24 is clear.     -   26. The right half of claim 24 contains the picture label of a         small staff whose lines are proportional to the staff lines of         the notes on staff picture 11B from claim 5.     -   27. The picture label in claim 26 will be referred to as the         long blank staff paper label 6B.     -   28. The long sliding key signature cover 6A from claim 24 will         be positioned in another plane directly over the clear disk         holder from claim 16.     -   29. In this position, claim 24 may slide ⅓ the horizontal         distance over the clear disk holder 7A from claim 16.     -   30. The purpose of the long sliding key signature cover 6A from         claim 24 is to block out some or all of the exposed accidentals         on the key signature disk 5 from claim 19 which enables any key         signature to be formed by flipping the key signature disk 5 and         slightly adjusting the long sliding key signature cover 6A from         claim 24 to the left or right     -   31. The staff slider 11A is a rectangular sliding board         containing the notes on staff picture 11B.     -   32. The staff slider from claim 31 slides horizontally.     -   33. The staff slider 11A from claim 31 is smaller than the width         of of the bilevel board 10A from claim 34.     -   34. The bilevel board 10A is the single largest piece of the         scale isolator 1.     -   35. There are two regions of the bi-level board 10A from claim         34 which look like a very thin staircase step. (see FIG.         1D—perspective view)     -   36. The upper rectangular region of claim 35 is a thicker         surface containing the enharmonic keyboard label 10B from claim         13.     -   37. The lower rectangular region of claim 35 is a thinner         surface that serves as the track for the staff slider 11A from         claim 31.     -   38. The lower rectangular region from claim 35 will also afford         room for 2 staff peg adjusters 12 in claims 40 and 2 end board         spacers 13 in claim 39.     -   39. The end board spacers 13 are permanently attached spacer         boards located on either side of the lower track of the bi-level         board in claim 34.     -   40. The staff peg adjusters 12, which could be magnetic, are         removable and re-positionable pegs.     -   41. The width of the staff peg adjusters 12 in claim 40 will be         approximately ½ the size of a single white note on the keyboard         picture, a single step tile or the distance between the center         of one ascending whole note to the center of the next adjacent         whole note.     -   42. When removed, the staff peg adjusters 12 in claim 40 create         a space enabling the staff slider 11A from claim 31 to be         slightly repositioned horizontally.     -   43. Repositioning the staff slider 11A from claim 31 allows for         vertical alignment of the notated whole notes with sharp and         flat keys on the enharmonic keyboard label 10B from claim 13.     -   44. When necessary, the repositioning in claim 43 leaves room to         place accidental game pieces from claim 132 (FIG. 6) in front of         the initial key note on the notes on staff picture 11B from         claim 5.     -   45. When both staff peg adjusters 12 from claim 40 are together         in the left or right position, there will be a space afforded to         place an accidental game piece (FIG. 6) to the immediate left of         the first key note on the notes on staff picture 11B from claim         5, which is not there otherwise.     -   46. To adjust the staff slider 11A from claim 31 in the sharp         direction, remove the staff peg adjuster 12 from claim 40 on the         right and add it to the one on the left.     -   47. To adjust the staff slider 11A from claim 31 in the flat         direction, remove the staff peg adjuster 12 from claim 40 on the         left and add it to the one on the right.     -   48. To adjust the staff slider 11A from claim 31 to scale keys         of CDEFGAB, scales that begin and end on white keyboard notes         and whose keynotes do not require an accidental, adjust the         staff slider 11A from claim 31 to the center, putting one staff         peg adjuster 12 from claim 40 on either side.

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C: Bottom Side of the Scale Isolator

-   -   49. On the bottom or reverse side of the scale isolator 1 from         claim 1, there is a picture of 15 ascending and descending whole         notes on a plain white background.     -   50. The ascending/descending whole note picture 10D from claim         49 is an ascending as well as descending picture of an 8 note         scale that allows for the melodic minor scale to be analyzed.     -   51. The reverse side of the scale isolator 1 from claim 1 also         includes a clear vertical slider 8F containing a superimposed         blank staff with ledger lines 8K which will vertically glide         over the ascending/descending whole note picture 10D from claim         50.     -   52. The blank staff with ledger lines 8K from claim 51 is         proportional to the notes on the ascending/descending whole note         picture 10D from claim 50     -   53. When the clear vertical slider 8F from claim 51 is moved up         to its furthest vertical point and stopping at the upper frame         perimeter, the superimposed staff will encapsulate an ascending         and descending C scale, if the given clef is treble.     -   54. When the slider in claim 51 is moved down to its furthest         vertical point, stopping at the lower frame perimeter, the         superimposed staff will encapsulate an ascending and descending         B scale.     -   55. The height of the clear vertical slider 8F in claim 51 is         the size needed to accommodate for all possible ascending and         descending diatonic scale scenarios in a one octave range.     -   56. The clear vertical slider's 8F height will be short the         reverse side of the bilevel board's 10C height by the distance         between the top and bottom notes on the ascending/descending         whole note picture 10D from claim 50.     -   57. There are two 180 degree long sleeves 81 on the upper and         lower left regions of the clear vertical slider 8F from claim         51.     -   58. The two 180 degree long sleeves 81 from claim 57 are plastic         sleeves bent 180 degrees.     -   59. The purpose of the two 180 degree long sleeves from claim 58         is to hold the short sliding key signature cover 6C from claim         66 on the left side of the clear vertical slider 8F from claim         51.     -   60. On the upper and lower right regions of the clear vertical         slider 8F from claim 51, there are two 180 degree short sleeves         8J.     -   61. The two 180 degree short sleeves from claim 60 are plastic         sleeves bent 180 degrees.     -   62. The sleeves 8I and 8J from claims 57 and 60 will need to         line up with the top and bottom of the clear vertical slider SF         from claim 51.     -   63. Similar to the clear disk holder 7A from claim 16, there         will be a disk holder hole 8G, whose purpose, once again, is to         hold the key signature disk 5 from claim 19 in line with and to         the left most position of the pictured staff on the clear         vertical slider 8F from claim 51.     -   64. The disk holder hole 8G from claim 63 may contain a tiny         bump at the position of 9 o'clock.     -   65. The bump in claim 64 is the disk holder hole's 9 o'clock         bump 8H.     -   66. The short sliding key signature cover 6C is a rectangular         sliding panel that serves the same function as the long sliding         key signature cover 6A from claim 24.     -   67. The left half of the short sliding key signature cover 6C         from claim 66 is clear.     -   68. The right half of the short sliding key signature cover 6C         from claim 66 contains the picture label of a small staff 6D         that is proportional to the blank staff with ledger lines 8K on         the clear vertical slider 8F from claim 51.     -   69. The short sliding key signature cover 6C from claim 66 will         be positioned in another plane directly over the key signature         disk 5 from claim 19 when it is positioned in the disk holder         hole 8G from claim 63.     -   70. In this position, the short sliding key signature cover 6C         from claim 66 may slide ⅓ the horizontal distance over the key         signature disk 5 from claim 19.     -   71. The purpose of the short sliding key signature cover 6C from         claim 66 is to block out some or all of the exposed accidentals         on the key signature disk 5 from claim 19, the implication being         that any key signature can be formed by flipping the key         signature disk 5 from claim 19 and slightly adjusting the short         sliding key signature cover 6C from claim 66 to the left or         right.

FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C: Circle of 5ths Spin Wheel and Information Disks

-   -   72. The spin wheel 15 part of the game apparatus contains 12         pegs 16 inserted perpendicularly at equal intervals around an         outermost circumference.     -   73. A leather flap 17 hangs over the 12 'o clock position of         claim 72, supported by a leather flap holder 18.     -   74. The flap 17, slapping against the pegs 16, slows and stops         the spin wheel in claim 72 as it spins.     -   75. The mechanical operation in claims 72-74 is essentially a         standard spin wheel, similar to a common spin wheel seen at         carnivals.     -   76. The wheel in claim 72 may be positioned with C Major/A minor         at the 12 'o clock region, creating a standard “text book” image         of the circle of 5ths.     -   77. On the interior face of the spin wheel from claim 72 are 15         additional perpendicular pegs, the information disc pegs 19.     -   78. 12 of the information disc pegs 19 from claim 77 form an         inner circle.     -   79. This inner circle of pegs from claim 77 should allow for:         -   A. the information discs, 30 and 31, to freely hang             vertically in a certain clock-numbered region.         -   B. the information discs, 30 and 31, to remain right-side up             with information remaining readable as the the spin wheel             from claim 72 is spun.         -   C. the information disks, 30 and 31, not to touch the 12             pegs 16 of the outermost circumference as the spin wheel             from claim 72 is spun.     -   80. The remaining 3 information disk pegs are located more         towards the center of the spin wheel in claim 72.     -   81. The 3 information disk pegs in claim 80 form an arc that         corresponds with the 3 information pegs from the 12 information         disc-peg circle from claim 78 located at 5,6 and 7 'o clock.     -   82. The placement of the 3 inner pegs from claim 80 should allow         for the information disks, 30 and 31, to freely hang vertically.     -   83. The placement of the 3 inner pegs from claim 80 should allow         for the information disks to remain right-side up with displayed         information remaining readable as the the spin wheel from claim         72 is spun.     -   84. The placement of the 3 inner pegs from claim 80 should allow         for the information disks to not touch any of the other         information discs as the spin wheel from claim 72 is spun.     -   85. The size of the spin wheel 15 from claim 72, positioning of         the information disc pegs 19 from claims 78 and 80, and size of         the disks, which all vary the proximity of the disks to each         other and thereby the mechanics of keeping the information discs         vertical while the spin wheel 15 from claim 72 is spun, may deem         it necessary to include the positioning of cams 29, or small         hemispheres of plastic, on the face of the spin wheel 15 from         claim 72.     -   86. The cams 29 from claim 85 will help to raise and lower the         information discs over and under each other as the spin wheel 15         from claim 72 is spun, keeping all disks vertical.     -   87. Cams 29 from claim 85 may or may not be necessary to         accommodate for varying dimensions used in construction.     -   88. Each of the interior 15 information disk pegs 19 from claim         77 hold two disks, for a total of 30 disks.     -   89. The sizes of the disks in claim 88 can vary depending on the         size of the spin wheel 15 in claim 72.     -   90. The information disks 30 & 31 in claim 88 display music         information.     -   91. The information disks 30 & 31 in claim 88 are stacked on top         of each other and hang vertically.     -   92. The outside information disk 30 refers to the disk whose         surface is entirely exposed.     -   93. The outside information disk 30 in claim 90 contains 2         vertical holes on the radius.     -   94. Neither hole in the outside information disk 30 in claim 93         will be directly in the center.     -   95. The outside information disk 30 can be repositioned         vertically up or down using the 2 holes in claim 93.     -   96. The outside information disk 30 in claim 92 will completely         cover the inside information disk 31 when hung from the outer         hole in claim 93.     -   97. The outside information disk 30 in claim 92 will partially         expose part of the inside information disk 31 in claim 98 when         hung from the inner hole in claim 93.     -   98. The inside information disk 31 refers to the disk whose         surface is covered or partially exposed.     -   99. Inside information disks 31 in claim 98 contains a single         hole corresponding to the outer hole of the outside information         disk 30 in claim 93.     -   100. When the outside information disk 30 in claim 93 is moved         to the inner hole, it raises the disk vertically.     -   101. When the outside information disk 30 in claim 93 is hung         from the inner hole, the inside information disk's 31 lower         crescent region is revealed.     -   102. The information contained on one side of the the outside         information disk 30 from claim 92 is a key signature.     -   103. The information contained on the opposite side of the         outside information disk 30 from claim 92 is a number from 1-7         accompanied by a sharp, flat, or “0”.     -   104. Information contained on the inside information disk 31 in         claim 98 will be displayed near the lower crescent region.     -   105. Information contained on one side of the inside information         disk 31 in claim 104 is some type of capital musical alphabet         letter by itself, or a capital musical alphabet letter followed         by a sharp or flat symbol.     -   106. Information contained on the opposite side of the inside         information disk 31 in claim 98 will be some type of lower-case         musical alphabet letter by itself, or a lower-case musical         alphabet letter followed by a sharp or flat symbol.     -   107. The capital letters, some with accidentals, from claim 105         are: C, G, D, A, E, B, F sharp, C Sharp, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb         and Cb.     -   108. The lower case letters, some with accidentals, from claim         106 are: a, e, b, f sharp, c sharp, g sharp, d sharp, a sharp,         d, g, c, f, b flat, e flat, and a flat.     -   109. Each inside information disc 31 respectively from claims         105 and 106 will contain the major key letter on one side, and         its relative minor on the other.     -   110. The information from claim 109 will be placed on the lower         region of the disk when it is hung vertically so it may be         exposed when the outside information disk 30 is raised by moving         it to the inner hole.     -   111. The outside information disks 30 from claim 92 on the spin         wheel 15 from claim 72 are interchangeable with the key         signature disks 5 from claim 19.     -   112. The outside information disks 30 from claim 92 may also         double as key signatures when inserted in the clear disc holder         7A from claim 16 or disk holder hole 8F from claim 63 on the         scale isolator's sliders 4.     -   113. The key signatures on the outside information disks 30 may         be used in lieu of manually constructing various key signatures         with the accidental game pieces from claim 132 (see FIG. 6).     -   114. The key signatures on the outside information disks 30 from         claim 92 or key signature disks 5 from claim 19 are either major         or natural minor.     -   115. Harmonic and melodic minor scales require accidental game         pieces from claim 132 (see FIG. 6) that are additional to the         key signatures depicted on either the information disks or key         signature disks 5 from claim 114.     -   116. Mounted above the circle of 5ths spin wheel 15 from claim         72 is an arc-shaped sign with the mnemonic device used for         remembering the order of accidentals in a key signature:         FCGDAEB.     -   117. The arc-shaped sign in claim 116 is the order of         accidentals mnemonic sign 24.     -   118. The order of accidentals mnemonic sign 24 from claim 117         has a similar shape to the arc of a portion of the spin wheel 15         from claim 72.     -   119. The surface of the order of accidentals mnemonic sign 24         from claim 117 is big enough to contain the FCGDAEB letters in         large bold font.     -   120. The sign from claim 117 also contains a single sharp         accidental followed by an arrow pointing right preceding the F         from claim 119, and an arrow pointing left followed by a flat         accidental after the B from claim 119.     -   121. Mounted above the order of accidentals mnemonic sign from         claim 117 at approximately the position of 10 o'clock is a         comedy drama mask 20.     -   122. The mouth of the comedy drama mask from claim 121 will         contain either a permanent picture of the formula for a major         scale in steps 22, or will have a mouth in relief with a         removable rectangular block containing the formula for a major         scale on one side, and the word “major” on the other side.     -   123. The rectangular block in claim 122 is the major scale         step-formula-insert 22.     -   124. Mounted above the order of accidentals mnemonic sign at         approximately the position of 2 o'clock is a tragedy drama mask         21.     -   125. The mouth of the tragedy drama mask 21 from claim 124 will         contain either a permanent picture of the formula for a minor         scale 23, or will have a mouth in relief with a removable         rectangular block insert containing the formula for a minor         scale on one side, and the word “minor” on the other.     -   126. The rectangular block from claim 125 is the minor scale         step-formula-insert 23.     -   127. The masks from claims 121 and 124 can be mounted to the         spin wheel by threading a dowel or some other device through the         masks' temples.     -   128. The device from 127 is the drama mask holder rod 28.     -   129. The drama mask holder rod 28 from claim 128 can be attached         near its midpoint to the vertical post 27 that holds the wheel.     -   130. The purpose of the comedy drama mask 20 from claim 121 in         housing the major scale step-formula-insert 22 from claim 123 is         to pictorially represent the “happy” sound of a major scale.     -   131. The purpose of the tragedy drama mask 21 from claim 124 in         housing the the minor scale step-formula-insert 23 from claim         126 is to pictorially represent the “sad” sound of a minor         scale.

Other Game Pieces

-   -   132. In addition to the scale isolator 1 from claim 1, several         accidental game pieces will be required to aid in the         construction of various scales and key signatures. (see FIG. 6)     -   133. The pieces from claim 132 are in the shape of sharps,         flats, double sharps, double flats or naturals.     -   134. The pieces from claim 132 could be made of black colored         plastic, rubber, flat magnetic or similar type materials.     -   135. The accidental game pieces from claim 132 are directly         proportional in a musical sense to the notes, staff and key         signatures displayed on the notes on staff picture 11B,         ascending/descending whole note picture 10D, and key signature         disks 5.     -   136. There will be a minimum of 8 sharps, 8 flats, 2 double         sharps and 2 naturals from claim 133 required to construct         various ascending or descending versions of the major or minor         scales as shown in FIG. 6.     -   137. There will be a minimum of 9 step tiles 2 containing         pictures of 3 types of intervals as illustrated in FIG. 4.     -   138. The purpose of the the step tiles in claim 137 is to show         the intervalic relationships between the notes.     -   139. The tiles in claim 137 will be square shaped.     -   140. The width of the tiles in claim 137 will be relatively         proportional to the distance between 2 whole notes on either the         notes on staff picture 11B or ascending/descending whole note         picture 10D.     -   141. At least 3 tiles illustrated in FIG. 4 from claim 137         contain the symbol for a half step.     -   142. At least 5 tiles illustrated in FIG. 4 from claim 137         contain the symbol for a whole step.     -   143. At least one tile illustrated in FIG. 4 from claim 137         contains the symbol for a whole and a half step.     -   144. The 9 or more tiles from claims 141, 142 and 143,         collectively, are used to show the intervalic steps between         notes as well as the formulas for various scales and modes.     -   145. Because there are only 7 intervalic steps in major and         minor scales, only 7 step tiles 2 from claim 137 will be used at         a time.     -   146. Repositioning 7 step tiles from claims 141, 142 and 143 in         various configurations can also show the intervalic symbols for         all modes.     -   147. Fastened to the lower center region of both the clear         horizontal slider 8A and clear vertical slider holder 14 are two         small rectangular blocks called bookend blocks 9.     -   148. The bookend blocks 9 from claim 147 are permanently         attached and serve as book ends for 7 of the 9 step tiles 2 from         claim 137.     -   149. The bookend blocks 9 from claim 147 enable 7 step tiles 2         from claim 137 to directly line up under the exposed 8 whole         notes and enharmonic keyboard label 10B from claim 13, thereby         showing the step relationship between notes.     -   150. There will be a major and 3 forms of minor formula flat         board insert 3, as illustrated close up in FIG. 5A and 5B.     -   151. The major 3 forms of minor formula flat board insert can be         inserted between the bookend blocks from claim 147 and under the         long U-channel frame 4B.     -   152. The U-channel frame 4B from claim 151 will hide the upside         scale on the exposed side of the major and 3 forms of minor         formula board insert 3.     -   153. The major and 3 forms of minor formula flat board insert 3         from claim 150 is a small rectangular board.     -   154. The width dimension of claim 150 is exactly that of 7 step         tiles 2 from claim 137 horizontally placed end to end.     -   155. On either face of the major and 3 forms of minor formula         flat board insert 3 from claim 150 will be pictures, in steps,         of the major, natural minor, harmonic minor and melodic minor         scales.     -   156. There will be 2 scale-step formula pictures on each side of         the 3 forms of minor formula flat board insert 3 from claim 150.     -   157. The scale-step formula pictures, from claim 150, will be         positioned so that one scale picture is right-side up and one is         upside down.     -   158. The right side up scale step picture from claim 150 will be         in the long upper horizontal region.     -   159. The upside down scale step picture from claim 150 will be         in the long lower horizontal region.     -   160. A total of 4 scale-step pictures (major, natural minor,         harmonic minor and melodic minor) can be placed on the flat         board insert 3 from claim 150 when positioned as discussed in         claims 156 and 157.     -   161. There will be an 8-sided dice containing the numbers 0, and         1-7, as illustrated in FIG. 7.     -   162. There will be a 2-sided coin containing the sharp symbol on         one side and flat symbol on the other, as illustrated in FIGS.         8A and 8B.     -   163. There is a 2-sided coin containing the letter “H” for         harmonic minor and “M” for melodic minor, as illustrated in         FIGS. 8C and 8D.

FIGS: 9, 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D, 9E, 9F and 9G

-   -   164. There is a deck of 61 cards.     -   165. The card deck from claim 164 contains a wild card as         illustrated in FIG. 9.     -   166. The card deck from claim 164 contains one of each of the 60         musical keys, as illustrated in FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D, 9E, 9F and         9G.     -   167. The cards from claim 164 will have 2 contrasting shades.     -   168. The sharp major key cards of G, D, A, E, B, F sharp, C         sharp, and natural, harmonic and melodic minor cards of e, b, f         sharp, c sharp, d sharp, g sharp, and a sharp, will be a         different contrast from the flat major key cards of F, Bb, Eb,         Ab, Db, Gb, Cb, and natural, harmonic and melodic minor cards d,         g, c, f, bb, eb, ab.     -   169. The cards from claim 164 containing no key-signature         accidentals, C major, a minor, a harmonic minor and a melodic         minor will contain 2 contrasting shades, a “zero,” and a         two-sided arrow pointing left and right.     -   170. The wild card from claim 165 will contain a picture of the         spin wheel from claim 72.

ADVANTAGES

From the description above a number of advantages of some embodiments of my Music Theory Casino Fundamentals Game become evident.

-   -   The immediate isolation of an enharmonically spelled keyboard         picture cross referenced with both 8 diatonic notes and 7         intervalic steps reduces scale explanation to its simplest         terms.     -   The two octave range of the scale isolator device addresses an         example of every type of major scale, natural minor scale,         harmonic minor scale, melodic minor scale or mode for instant         analysis.     -   The key signature disk and information disks on the spin wheel         enable immediate construction and explanation of key signatures         and the circle of 5ths.     -   The staff peg adjusters on the scale isolator allow for notated         scales to vertically align with keynotes that begin on sharp or         flat accidentals.     -   The ascending/descending scale picture on the bottom of the         scale isolator helps to facilitate greater understanding of         major and 3 forms of minor and is especially useful in         explaining the melodic minor scale.     -   The easy to use manipulatives: scale isolator board,         accidentals, step tiles, key signature disk, spin wheel, die,         coins and card deck, which are all highly tactile, provide a         “game like” feel while allowing for quick analysis and         construction of scales, modes and key signatures.

While the descriptions contained in this document have many specific references to diatonic scales, modes, key signatures and the circle of 5ths, these should not be construed as factors that limit the scope of possibilities of the device in regards to music theory discussion. These manipulatives are simple illustrations of some of several embodiments. For example, other types of sliders containing musical information related to the further discussion of music theory could be developed to address pentatonic, blues, chromatic, and whole tone scales. Sliders could be developed to specifically address chords and intervals greater than the whole step and half step interval discussed in this embodiment. Other clefs could be used besides the treble clef of this embodiment. Also, the static scale notes on the staff slider could be positioned on other areas of the staff to achieve scales written in higher or lower octaves. Therefore, the scope of the embodiments should be decided by subsequent claims and their equivalents, rather than by the examples presented. 

I claim:
 1. The musical game hardware/teaching aids collectively called “Music Theory Casino Fundamentals Game.”
 2. The game hardware/teaching aids of claim 1 shall include a scale isolator board, circle of 5ths spin wheel, 60 key cards, 1 wild card, step tiles (at least 9), major and 3 forms of minor formula flat board insert, accidental game pieces, 8-sided die containing the numbers 0-7, sharp and flat coin and harmonic and melodic coin. 